Compare towns
Spencer vs Windham vs Worcester vs Paxton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most renters (37% rent).
Windham has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Paxton has the highest household income ($134k).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Spencer | Windham | Worcester | Paxton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008Highest |
594Lowest |
831 |
5,002 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4 14% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
41.8±3.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Paxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
15.9%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11k about the U.S. average |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$134,083±$8kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$472,300±$29kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
— | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,386±$88Highest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$4,421 42% above U.S. |
$7,129Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.2%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Spencer and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Paxton and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #261 of 282 in MA | — | — | #219 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Wachusett |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.